Ophthalmic Assistant Salary Trends

ATPO has recently released the results of their 2017 salary survey for ophthalmic assistants, technicians, and technologists.

What is an average salary for an ophthalmic assistant?

According to a 2017 salary survey by the Association of Technical Personnel in Ophthalmology, the average salary for certified ophthalmic medical assistant respondents to the survey was about

$45K per year, which breaks down to about $22 per hour. We must take into account the experience and job tenure of the average respondent to the survey. The respondents to the 2017 survey on average had worked in the field for 17 years, and had been on the job for 10 years in the current position.

Indeed.com and other job related websites provide salary data that is based upon what current job listings are posting as salary. These are representative of current listings only. Many companies do not publish salary information with their listings. These listings include more entry level salaries, which will bring the average down. The ATPO survey is heavily weighted toward personnel who have many years of experience.

How is ophthalmic assistant salary trending over time?

Below are the average salary listings for certified ophthalmic assistants from the ATPO surveys:

2007 survey: $44K

2009 survey: $48K

2011 survey: $43K

2013 survey: $50K

2015 survey: $46K

2017 survey: $45K

This dip in the 2011 survey may not be a surprise considering the economic difficulties during the time period leading up to the survey.

How does ophthalmic assistant salary compare with ophthalmic technician and ophthalmic technologist salary?

Is it worth it to move from COT® certification to COMT® certification?

Again, the answer is another resounding "yes"! On average you can make $12K more per year, or about $120,000 over a 10 year period of employment.

At the entry level, is it worth getting certified as an ophthalmic assistant vs. staying uncertified?

As you may know, there is no certification requirement for ophthalmic medical personnel under the law. Therefore, you do not have to be certified as an ophthalmic assistant to work as an ophthalmic assistant. There is not a large amount of data from the ATPO surveys regarding certified vs. non-certified, because the vast majority of the participants were certified. In their 2007 survey, limited data showed that those certified for less than 2 years had an average salary of $29K, while those certified for 10 years or more had an average salary of $43K. Around the same time, a survey by the ASOA showed that assistants certified for less than one year had an average salary of $24K, while those certified for more than one year had an average salary of about $35K. The 2017 ATPO survey listed non-certified respondents as having an average salary of $69K, but there were only 144 in this category. It is interesting to note that these respondents were paid a salary. Uncertfied respondents who were paid by the hour averaged $19.55 per hour, which is about $40K per year. Salaried employees are usually in management positions, which would carry a higher salary. Entry level positions listed on job sites, sampled in January of 2018, showed the median salary to be $16-$17 per hour (about $34K per year) for an ophthalmic assistant.

Therefore, the data again supports the financial benefits of certification.

What kind of employment benefits are there for the ophthalmic medical personnel?

The vast majority of respondents in the surveys (certified personnel) had paid holidays, paid vacation, and paid health insurance benefits.

What factors influence the level of ophthalmic medical personnel salary?

The following is a compilation of factors mentioned by several salary surveys. Keep in mind that these are not guarantees, just generalities:

Those in large metro areas tend to make more than those in smaller cities/towns.

Those on the coasts make more than those in the middle of the country.

Areas with a shortage of available personnel will pay more.

The more experience you have, the more you get paid.

Advanced education and training results in higher paid.

The more responsibility you assume, the more you are paid.

Supervisors make more than those being supervised.

The longer you stay with an employer, generally the more you will be paid.

Salaried personnel make more than hourly personnel. This most likely reflects those in management and supervisory positions.

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